The Telangana Government has once again requested the Ministry of Jal Shakti to stop the Andhra Pradesh Government from going ahead with the proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), now changed as Polavaram-Nallamallasagar Link Project (PNLP), give clearance to Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and resolve other outstanding issues of Telangana.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary of MoJS V.L. Kantha Rao on Saturday, Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy brought to the notice of the former that the State had submitted a detailed project report of the PRLIS to the Central Water Commission for clearance based on the re-allocation of 90.81 tmc ft, including 45 tmc ft share from non-utilisation in the minor irrigation sources and another 45 tmc ft in lieu of AP’s diversion of over 80 tmc ft Godavari water to the Krishna Basin.
He asked the MoJS Secretary to expedite clearances from various Directorates of the CWC on a fast-track to alleviate the hardships of farmers in the parched regions and to prevent further escalation in the project cost and time over-runs in extending the desired benefits by giving clearance to at least first phase of the project to utilise 45 tmc ft water for which the DPR was submitted on November 18 (recently).
On PNLP, which is being taken up in place of PBLP by AP, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said, except for the terminal point nothing had changed and it remains an illegal proposal since it is proposed based on the flood waters. He pointed out that both Maharashtra and Karnataka have already expressed their reservations against PBLP and its pre-feasibility report. Karnataka went a step ahead and wrote to MoJS that it would utilise 112 tmc ft more Krishna water in lieu of the diversion of Godavari water.
Further, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy urged the MoJS Secretary to instruct the CWC to give clearance of the Irrigation Planning Directorate for Sammakka Sagar Project and also advise the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II to complete its hearing on the apportionment of Krishna water between Telangana and AP from out of the combined share.
On the Karnataka Government’s plans to acquire land with ₹70,000 crore to increase the height of Almatti Dam by 5 meters, he requested the MoJS to prevent Karnataka from proceeding with the land acquisition itself.
He sought approval under PMKSY-AIBP for Pranahita-Chevella Sujala Sravanthi, Narayanpet-Kodangal Lift Irrigation, Sita Rama LI and Sitmma Sagar Multi-purpose, PRLI, Mukteshwaram (Chinna Kaleshwaram) LI, Modikuntavagu, Chankha-Korata distributary system projects for 2026-31 period. Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rahul Bojja on Saturday met Mr. Kantha Rao and CWC Chairman Anupam Prasad to handover the minister’s letter.
Published – December 13, 2025 08:23 pm IST
